I Have the Jet Lag Blues

August 28, 2018

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Have you ever had a bad case of jet lag? Merriam-Webster defines it as “a condition that is characterized by various psychological and physiological effects (as fatigue and irritability), occurs following long flight through several time zones, and probably results from disruption of circadian rhythms in the human body — called also jet fatigue.”

On the other hand, The Urban Dictionary, which I have a growing fondness for says, “Jet lag is an expected scapegoat for laziness, or a sports team fucking up … andrew: ooohh.. mate im toooo tired.. my jetlag is killing me.”

Circadian Rhythms

Whichever way you look at it if you fly from say Sydney, Australia to Los Angles you are looking at some serious jet lag time. Non-stop flights will take up 15 hours plus of your time. This plays horrible games with your circadian rhythms. Circadian rhythms are 24-hour cycles that most organisms, including humans, follow.

According to Jake Chen, an associate professor in the Biochemistry and Cell Biology Graduate Program at the University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston (UTHealth), “In our life, we say, ‘Timing is everything.’ But that’s an exaggeration. It is not, however, an exaggeration to say, ‘There is an optimal time for everything.’ In our body, it’s the same. Within individual cells and within each tissue or organ there’s a time for every physiological process. The circadian clock is the master mechanism, or timer, to make sure that everything runs smoothly and according to plan. That is a fundamental function.” https://endpoints.elysiumhealth.com/the-complete-guide-to-the-science-of-circadian-rhythms-7b78581cbffa

Watch What You Eat & Drink

So what can you do to help with your jet lag? Some advocate not eating on the plane, and most recommend no caffeine or alcohol.

Try Natural Sleep Aids

Sleeping on the flight is highly recommended, but advice that is not always easy to follow. You can try taking melatonin to help you sleep as well as bringing eye covers and earplugs. Here is an interesting article by Alex Fergus on natural aids that you can use to help with sleep deprivation. https://www.alexfergus.com/blog/how-to-sleep-on-planes-and-beat-jet-lag